With exciting theme parks, kid-friendly activities and shopping and dining options, Dubai is the ultimate destination for a memorable family holiday this spring and summer. Spring in Dubai is traditionally the last opportunity to enjoy the cool breeze before the summer arrives. This year, it’s also the perfect time to try out the city’s new outdoor activities that have opened in recent months. Below are some of the fun-packed family activities to enjoy.
1. Dubai Parks and Resorts
With three theme parks and one waterpark, Dubai Parks and Resorts offer visitors a thrilling experience like no other. Featuring more than 100 incredible rides and attractions at Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Legoland Dubai, and Legoland Water Park, this maze of fun is suitable for all ages and will keep young hearts captivated. Meanwhile, the centrally located Riverland Dubai provides entertainment and dining options for the whole family.
2. Dubai Parks and Gardens
Dubai is home to spectacular parks and garden destinations that are perfect spots to spend a great day with your whole family. The region’s first glowing theme park, the Dubai Garden Glow features sparkling floral displays, aquatic installations and more than 100 life-size animatronic dinosaur figures. The Dubai Miracle Garden meanwhile, welcomes visitors into a world of floral wonder. The 72,000sqm garden showcases remarkable structures, with 50 million blooming flowers covering the different exhibits. Another great feature worth seeing is the Dubai Butterfly Garden, housing over 35,000 species of butterflies in ten custom-built domes.
3. The Pointe
The Pointe is Dubai’s new waterfront destination on Palm Jumeirah, featuring a retail, dining and entertainment complex across the bay from Atlantis. The 130,000sqm destination hosts spectacular fountain shows, a vibrant promenade, and more than 80 restaurants and retail outlets for dining and shopping.
4. La Mer
La Mer comprises of distinct zones, including the beach, a leisure and entertainment hub, a spread of tantalizing cafes, restaurants and the latest addition to Dubai’s exciting waterparks, Laguna Waterpark. With twinkling lights and artsy murals along the beachfront promenade, La Mer is teeming with unique, Instagrammable backdrops to capture in that square frame.
5. Al Seef
The newly-opened area of Al Seef is making its mark on Dubai’s heritage district. Located near the iconic Dubai Creek, the 232,000sqm development includes a distinct heritage area featuring old architecture, which then blends into more contemporary structures. Al Seef is also home to a myriad of shopping concepts throughout the open-air market, as well as an irresistible collection of restaurants.
6. Bluewaters Island
Dubai’s latest iconic island destination, Bluewaters Island is set to boast 200 retail and dining concepts in a modern district featuring unparalleled views of the Arabian Gulf. Located off Jumeirah Beach Residences, Bluewaters is also home to Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel, rising as the centerpiece of the island. As a Kenyan traveler to the city, this is something you have to experience and your social media pages will thank you for it.
7. Global Village
Global Village brings cultures together to help visitors explore different countries around the world in just a few hours – be it London’s Big Ben, the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy, the Taj Mahal or Ancient Egypt. There’s plenty to enjoy for your family, with more than 75 countries displaying traditional handicrafts and snacks across 30+ pavilions. The best part is that Kenya is featured too! You get to interact with Maasai in the pavilion and take pictures with your people away from home.
8. Waterparks
Visitors can splash their way into fun this summer with waterparks across Dubai. Perfect for the city’s year-round sunshine, the parks have something for everyone.
- The latest addition to Dubai’s exciting water-based playgrounds, Laguna Waterpark features a number of adrenaline-pumping rides, a lazy river, and a children’s zone, as well as a flow-rider surf simulator.
- Perfect for little ones, the LEGOLAND Water Park allows little ones to race each other, ride together in groups, or construct their water vehicles and test them against the current to see how well they fare.
- The biggest waterpark in Dubai, Aquaventure at Atlantis, The Palm, boasts adrenaline-pumping rides spread across two main towers (Poseidon and Neptune) that are connected by a giant lazy river that transports riders between slides.
- An old favorite amongst residents and visitors since 1999, Wild Wadi is home to thrilling ramps and raft-based slides, all set against spectacular views of the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Carol Wanza is a senior account manager at Newmark IMC – a leading Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) firm in Nairobi, Kenya.
